Review: Mariah Carey Rides a Wave of Tropic Passion on “Sugar Sweet” with Shenseea and Kehlani

Mariah Carey’s riding a wave of tropical passion on “Sugar Sweet,” the latest single from her upcoming 16th studio album Here For It All, due Sept. 26 via gamma. Featuring dancehall star Shenseea and R&B's ever-evolving truth teller, Kehlani, the island-spiced groove is a certified song-of-the-summer contender.

Driven by hypnotic drums and syrupy synths, the trios' voices surf across a sun-drenched melody. Carey’s storied five-octave range explores fresh terrain here — humid and honeyed, her vocal blankets the beat with a warmth that clings like a Caribbean breeze. She’s at her most lush and intimate, assuring a lover, “I’ma keep it nice, I’ma keep it neat, I’ma keep it sugar, I’ma keep it sweet” before the irresistible hook sinks in: “I’ma keep it nice, nice, neat, neat, sugar, sugar, sweet, sweet.”

Fresh off the biggest streaming week of her career — 13 million global streams for "Folded" — Kehlani’s warm voice sparkles like sunlight on turquoise waters: “You make me melt like candy / Only you can make it drip that kinda way.” Shenseea, whose 2022 debut Alpha peaked at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Reggae Albums chart, flavors her verse in flirty patois.

“Sugar Sweet” is ear candy of the most infectious kind — instantly satisfying, yet increasingly addictive with every listen. If there’s one thing missing from this delectable treat, it’s more vocal interplay between Carey and Kehlani, whose harmonies could’ve taken the track even higher.

While “Sugar Sweet” marks Carey’s latest team-up, she’s stayed active on the collaboration front since 2018’s Caution, joining forces with Ariana Grande (“Oh Santa!” ft. Jennifer Hudson, “yes, and?” remix), Barbara Streisand ("One Heart, One Voice" ft. Ariana Grande), Muni Long (“Made For Me” remix), and Latto (“Big Energy” remix). In 1995, her original “Fantasy” made history as the first single by a woman to debut at No. 1 on the Hot 100 — a classic she revisited with Latto’s chart-climbing “Big Energy” remix. Though her version helped push the track to No. 3 on the Hot 100, Carey (and DJ Khaled) were left uncredited, as the remix didn’t account for the majority of plays that week.

If you're Here For It All, you can presave Mariah's 16th studio album on all streaming platforms and grab a copy on cd, vinyl, or cassette ---- 3 variant covers are available to collect.